The palace had changed.
Not in structure.
Not in routine.
But in something far more subtle.
Kael no longer acknowledged her.
At all.
Lyra noticed it immediately.
The next morning, when she entered the dining
hall-
He was already there.
Seated at the head of the table.
As always.
Powerful.
Composed.
Untouchable.
And when she walked in-
He didn't look up.
Not even once.
Lyra paused for a second.
Just one.
Then continued walking, taking her seat without
hesitation.
The room was quiet.
Tense.
Waiting.
She could feel the eyes on her again.
But this time-
They weren't just watching her.
They were watching him.
Watching how he would react.
He didn't.
A servant stepped forward, pouring tea.
Kael spoke.
But not to her.
"Prepare the northern patrol," he said calmly. "I
want reports before nightfall."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Lyra's fingers tightened slightly around the edge of the table.
He was doing it on purpose.
Of course he was.
Ignoring her.
Acting like she didn't exist.
"...How childish," she muttered under her breath.
But the words felt weak.
Because it wasn't childish.
It was deliberate.
And it was working.
"You should eat."
The voice came from her side.
Lyra turned.
The same woman from before the one who always mocked her-stood there, her expression
calm, almost pleasant.
Too pleasant.
"I didn't ask for your concern," Lyra replied flatly.
The woman smiled faintly.
"Of course not," she said. "But as the future
queen, you should at least pretend to belong.
Lyra's eyes narrowed.
"I don't need to pretend anything."
The woman's gaze flickered briefly toward Kael.
Still not looking.
Still not reacting.
Then back to Lyra.
"...It seems he agrees," she said softly.
The words were light..
But they hit.
Hard.
Lyra's expression didn't change.
But something inside her-
Shifted.
"Kael."
The woman turned her attention to him now,
And this time-
He responded.
His gaze lifted.
Not toward Lyra.
But toward her.
"Yes?"
Lyra stilled.
Just for a second.
The difference-
Was clear.
The woman stepped closer, her posture relaxed.
"The council is requesting your presence again," she said. "They're concerned about yesterday."
Kael nodded once.
"I'll be there shortly."
His tone-
Normal.
Calm.
Controlled.
Like nothing had happened.
Like he hadn't ignored Lyra completely just
moments ago.
The woman smiled faintly.
"I'll walk with you," she added.
Kael didn't object..
Didn't hesitate.
"Do as you wish."
And that was it.
They walked away.
↓
Together.
Lyra sat there.
Still.
Silent.
Her tea untouched.
Her expression calm.
Perfectly calm.
But her fingers-
Tightened slowly around the cup.
"...So that's how it is."
The words barely left her lips.
Later that day-
The palace felt louder.
More suffocating.
More irritating.
Lyra walked through the corridors alone, her steps sharper than usual.
She didn't know why.
Didn't want to know.
It didn't matter.
Nothing about this place mattered.
Nothing about him mattered.
Then why-
Why was it so irritating?
She turned a corner-
And stopped.
Ahead, in the open courtyard-
Kael stood.
And she wasn't alone.
The same woman stood beside him again.
Closer this time.
Too close.
They were talking.
Calmly.
Comfortably.
As if nothing was wrong.
As if everything was normal.
Lyra's gaze hardened.
She didn't move.
Didn't step forward.
She just watched.
The woman laughed softly at something Kael
said.
And Kael-
Didn't stop her,
Didn't pull away.
Didn't ignore her.
Lyra's chest tightened.
"...Ridiculous."
She turned away immediately.
Without waiting.
Without thinking.
Because this-
This didn't matter.
But later that evening-
It still bothered her.
She stood by the window again, her arms. crossed tightly.
"...Why should I care?"
She didn't.
She shouldn't.
He could talk to whoever he wanted.
Ignore whoever he wanted.
It had nothing to do with her.
Nothing.
And yet-
The image stayed.
Clear.
Annoying.
Unwanted.
Her jaw tightened.
The door opened.
Lyra didn't turn.
She already knew.
Kael.
His presence was unmistakable.
But he didn't speak.
Didn't look at her.
Just walked in.
Like she wasn't there.
Again.
Lyra exhaled slowly.
Trying to ignore it.
Trying to stay calm.
But then-
"...You seem fine."
The words slipped out.
Before she could stop them.
Kael paused.
For a second.
Then continued walking.
"Yes"
One word.
Flat.
Distant.
Lyra turned.
Her eyes narrowing.
"Recovered quickly."
Kael didn't look at her.
"I don't have the luxury of weakness."
Lyra scoffed softly.
"Clearly."
Silence.
Then-
She spoke again.
This time sharper.
"Interesting how you can talk to others just fine."
That made him stop.
Finally.
The room stilled.
Kael turned slightly.
Not fully.
Never fully.
"...Is that a problem?"
Lyra held his gaze-
Or tried to.
Because he still wasn't looking at her.
"No," she said, "Just an observation."
A pause.
Then-
↓
Her voice dropped slightly.
Colder.
"Or is it selective?"
That did it.
Kael turned completely this time.
But his eyes-
Didn't soften.
Didn't change.
They were colder than ever.
"You wanted distance," he said. "I'm giving it to
you."
Each word precise.
Controlled.
"And now you're complaining about it?"
Lyra's expression tightened.
"I'm not complaining."
"You are."
Silence.
Sharp.
Uncomfortable.
Lyra looked away first.
↓
"...Forget it."
Kael didn't respond.
Because to him-
It already was forgotten.
That night-
The distance remained.
But something else joined it.
Something new.
Something dangerous.
Not love.
Not care.
But something far more complicated.
Because for the first time-
Lyra felt something she didn't expect.
Not hate.
Not exactly.
But something close to-